The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday delivered a consequential ruling for the state’s gaming industry, holding that the “skill games” that have spread through convenience stores, bars, gas stations, and other locations are slot machines under Pennsylvania law. The practical effect is significant: these machines must be limited to licensed and regulated gambling venues, rather than operating in the gray market that has fueled years of litigation and enforcement disputes.

The decision gives state regulators and law enforcement a stronger legal footing to seize or shut down machines that operators have long argued are materially different from traditional slots because they involve some degree of player skill.